Mohali: The arrest of a senior assistant-cum-registry clerk at the Mohali deputy commissioner’s office in a Rs 1 lakh bribery case has opened up a wider probe into an alleged property fraud racket. Investigators suspect the accused used confidential govt records to identify resumed or disputed properties and prepare fake documents for their sale to unsuspecting buyers.Bhupinder Kaur, posted in the RIA branch of the DC office, was arrested by the Punjab vigilance bureau last week. Mohali deputy commissioner Komal Mittal said Kaur had been suspended and dismissal proceedings initiated.“The senior assistant has already been suspended and her dismissal proceedings have been initiated. Many complaints are now being received against her from people who claim they were duped by her,” Mittal said.Modus operandi under scrutinyAccording to preliminary investigations, Kaur allegedly exploited her access to official property records to identify properties under resumption or involved in disputes. Investigators suspect the information was then used to facilitate fraudulent transactions.Fake or fabricated documents were allegedly prepared to make such properties appear legally transferable and were shown to prospective buyers as genuine records.Officials are now examining how the information was accessed, who prepared the forged documents, how buyers were approached and whether other officials or private individuals were involved. Vigilance officers suspect the alleged fraud may extend beyond a single transaction and involve multiple property deals in Mohali.Rs 8 lakh bribe demand led to trapThe case came to light after a resident of Chit village in Gurdaspur district approached the vigilance bureau, alleging Kaur had demanded Rs 8 lakh to facilitate the allotment and registration of an auction plot in Sky Rock Welfare Society, Sector 111/112, Mohali.Following the complaint, vigilance laid a trap and allegedly caught her red-handed while accepting Rs 1 lakh in the presence of official witnesses. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was subsequently registered at the Vigilance Bureau police station in Mohali.Probe widensAfter her arrest, Kaur was produced before a court. Vigilance officials have since obtained her police remand and are probing whether the alleged bribe was part of a larger property fraud network.A senior vigilance officer said preliminary findings had raised suspicions about her involvement in multiple similar cases.“We have obtained police remand of the accused. During the preliminary investigation, suspicions have emerged regarding her involvement in multiple such cases. We also suspect the involvement of other persons, and all angles are being investigated,” the officer said.Investigators are also examining the role of govt officials, property dealers and private persons who may have helped identify properties, arrange buyers, prepare documents or facilitate registrations.The alleged misuse of official records has added a serious dimension to the case, with vigilance now expected to scrutinise past property transactions handled by the accused, complaints lodged against her and the money trail in suspected deals.
